ekw: "You've got to remember that in the heat of the moment protagonists will often try to take the credit for positive outcomes, whether they are in the loop or not. The early boasts are entirely understandable."
I think this is a really important point. Given the prevalence of false internet claims I think it is incredibly disengenuous to rely upon those statements to lay blame and justify critical international policy actions. I'm sure intelligence agencies are smarter than that but if they are not it would explain a lot.
I think there are so many examples here where the publics in many countries are being treated like fools.
As for the media, there was a time (short-lived it seems) when journalists were intrepid questioners of truth. Now they appear to be nothing more than spineless servants regurgitating perfunctory propaganda.